Electric suction sweeper



Aug. 23, 1927. 1,639,959

I. J. OWEN ELECTRIC SUCTION SWEEPER Filed 00'6- 3. 1922 a 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 v El 11 INVENTOR.

' Ira q. Owen ATTORNEY 8 1, 9,- Aug. 23,1927. L v 63 959 ELECTRIC SUCTION SWEEPER Filed on. s. 1922 e Shes t I m a INVENTOR. Ira J. Owen ATTORNEYS 1,639,95 Aug. 23,1927. L 9

ELECTRIC sucnok SWEEPER I Filed Oct. 5.1922 s Sheets-Sheet '4 INVENTOR. Ir cl 1. Owen 6W ad A TTORNEYS 23 Aug 1927 1. J.OWEN

ELECTRIC SUCTION SWEEPER Filed 001- 3, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Ira d One/7 7 ATJ'ORNEYS Aug. 23, 1927. 1,639,959

I. J. OWEN ELECTRIC SUCTION SWEEPER Filed Oct. 5. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I [51+ \IIIIII v I 1 =1 LAE! 9: Q I

INVENTOR. [r0 J Owen A TTORNEYS Patented Au 23,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE;

IRA. J. OWEN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, .TO .BISSELL CARPET SWEEPEB COMPANY, OF GRAND BAIIDS, MICHIGAN, A GOR- IPOBATION or MICHIGAN.

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Application filed October 8, 1922. Serial No. 592,086;

This invention relates to improvements in electric suction cleaners.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to provide in such a cleaner a very compact structure and one which lies close to the floor so that it can be readily passed under most articles of furniture when in operation- Second, to provide such a structure in which the suction chamber is disposed in proximity to the floor reducing to a minimum the distance necessary for lifting the dust and dbris that is collected and carried to the ba or receptacle. Ihird, to provide an improved construction of fan. I

, Fourth, to provide an improved construction and combination of fan and motor which secure a low center of gravity of the entire machine.

Fifth, to provide an improved construction and arrangement of suction cleaner casing motorhousing to insure rapid dissipation of heat and the full cooling effect of the air 5% that circulates through the machine.

Sixth to provide an improved connection -and arrangement of the electrical connections to such motor,

Seventh, to provide a construction of nozzle and easing which utilizes to the full degreethe principle of the Venturi tube in connection with the nozzle. Eighth, to provide an improved construction of detachable nozzle.

' tion of detachable interchangeable nozzle means. whereby a plain suction nozzle, a nozzle with a sweeper brush,or a nozzle with hose connection can be readily substituted.

Tenth, to provide an improved construction of detachable brush nozzle so constructed that the brush is driven from the front carrying wheels.

Further objects, and'objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of mv invention by the devices and means described in the 50 following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodition of the casing Ninth, to provide an improved construc-,

ment of my invention is clearl illustrated in the accompany' g drawings orming a partof this specification, in which:

Fig. I is a plan view of my improved suction cleaner showing the eneral relation and contour of the nozzle and easing.

Fig. II is a vertical detail sectional elevation on the irregular line 22 of Figs. I, IV, V and VI showing the general relation of the parts and disposition of the motor, fan and nozzle;

Fig. III is a detail side elevation exploded view showing the separable motor casing and fan support and the detachable nozzle.

Fig. IV is a front elevation with one end of the nozzle in section to show Venturi opening into the nozzle at thepoint.

Fi 'V is an inverted plan view clearly showing the Venturi construction of the noz-. zle and case.

vFig. VI is a front elevation view with the nozzle removed. l

Fig. VII is a detail fvertical front to rear sectional view through the fan and the performing the fan chamber on the irre ular line 77 of Fig. VIII.

Fig. VII is a similar vertical section to Fig. VII through a usual and standard construction of suction fan for vacuum cleaners for comparison.

Fig. VIII is an inverted plan view, partially in section, on-line 88 of Fig. VII.

showing-the annular formation of the air intake to the fan and the Venturi feature of the air intake from the nozzle.

Fig. VIII is an inverted plan view of the usual construction of vacuum cleaner showing the usual central round hole air intake to the fan. V

Fig. IX is an enlarged detail inverted plan view of the suction fan.

Fig. X is an enlarged inverted elevation view of the fan.

Fig. XI is an enlarged detail sectional inverted elevation of the fan takenon line 11-11 of of Figs. IX and X.

Fig. XII is a detail sectional view through the fork or bail connection for the handle to the casing taken on section line 1 2-'12 of Figs. III and XIII, showin details of the wiring connection to the ban e Fig. XIII is an enlarged detail view of the as shaped bottom 18'. It is suitably flanged at inner face of one of the bearings of the bail or fork. Fig. XIV is a longitudinal section through the handle, the central portion being shown 5 in full lines showing the extension cord plug connection switch and other electrical connections.

- Fig. XV is a front elevation view of the nozzle hose plate connection.

XVI is a detail vertical sectional view on line 1616 of Fig. XV. v

Fi XVII is a front elevation view of the deta'c able brush or carpet sweeper nozzle.

Fig. XVIII is a detail side elevation view showing the relation of the brush nozzle to the carrying wheel and to the front of the casing.

Fig. XIX is a detail transverse sectional view on line 1919 of Fig. XVII.

Fig. XX is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 20-20 of-Fig. .XVIII showing details of the nozzle brush structure and drivin means.

In t e drawings, thesectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines and similar numerals of reference refer to similar arts throughout the several views.

T parts will be referred to by their numerals of reference. 1 is the main body of the casing provided with front carrying wheels 2 on suitable axles 2" and caster wheel 3 at the rear, the same having rubber tires 4.

The upper portion 5 of the casing constitutes t e fan chamber, the lower portion 6 constituting the fan inlet which is broad in proportion to the fan diameter and disphosed in as close proximity to the floor as t e usual condition of carpets or rugs will permit. It extends forwardly into a broad nozzle connection 7, the same being contracted at 8 in proximity to the fan to insure the Venturi effect in the main passage. The bottom of this structure is-substantially a broad mouthed dust pan. The front has a vertical face 9 with pro'ecting dowel pins 10 to receive the detacha le nozzle block 11 which is secured in lace by thumb-screws 16, 16 through suita le bosses 17 at each end of the extension 7. The journals 2' for the carrying wheels project/ horizontally images same bosses.

' nozzle is formed with a comparatively broad nozzle mouth 12 with front and rear lips 13, 14: and end intake openings 15, which flare slightly outward as seen in i Fig. IV. and are contracted somewhat at 15 to secure the Venturi effect atthe opposite ends of the nozzle, a matter of high consequence in gathering dust, sand or debrisfrom corners and next to base board, as well as in usual flat surface work. i

13 is the outer motor casing having dish- 19 to fit into the correspondingly flanged circular aperture 20 in the top of the fan chamber 5, thus constituting the main body of the top of the casing. A removable cap 21 fits over the top of this casing. The motor 22 revolves on a vertical axis and it is suitably supported on a shoulder within the oasin 18. The spindles 23, 24 are provided Wlfil ball bearings 23, 24.

The fan 25 is carried on the depending end of the lower spindle 24, which projects well down into proximity with the bottom of the main casing. The fan 25 is saucershaped with a flange 26 at the top and a depending thickened hub portion 27., Its side walls 28 conform to the rounded bottom portion 18 of the casing 18 and run in close proximity thereto, there being only suflicient clearance to insure freedom of movement. The fan blades 29 of the fan are curved and are preferably of the Bittenzer design, although any shape of fan blade will be effective according to the efficiency of its design in this position. The bottom of the fan chamber opening is circular, a partition flange 30 extending back from the top of the nozzle level with its rear edge out to the circular form as clearly appears in Fig. VIII. The intake to the fan is thus very broad, the air very freely circulates around the broad central portion and passes freely to the fan blades where it is projected outward by the centrifugal force. 4

So that the relation of the intake to the fan and its increased capacity will be readily. understood and the manner in which the broad nozzle and passage is thus secured, I illustrate in Figs. VII and VIII sectional and plan views for. comparison of the fan and fan chamber appearing in Figs. VII and VIII. v v

The fan chamber is provided with the. delivery spout 31 provided with usual connections 32 to a dust bag or other collector no means (see Fi s. I III and V).'

' The hollow andle 33 is provided with a hollow fork or bail 34 within which is disposed the electrical connections 35 extending to pivotal contacts 36 which connect to the motor. The fork is secured to the motor casing by pivot screws 34'.

Conductors 37 are within the hollow tubular handle and are provided with a cross push button switch 38 and the handle has a hollow lamp socket structure 39 for the usual lamp block 40, it being of great advantage to have the socket within the end of the handle with projecting terminals 41 which are protected by being within thesocket and avoid the necessitv of projecting contacts on thy electric light plug.

So that my improved cleaner may be read:

il used with a suction hose for cleaning furnlture, side walls and ceiling, I provide a hose nozzle block 42 with a hoseconnection ing carpet sweeper brush, for agitating and sweeping the surface at the same time that the dust laden air is being sucked in. I provide a detachable nozzle 44 which is enlarged into a brush chamber at 45 and a carpet sweeper brush 46 with its integral driving wheel 47 is inserted on the supporting pivots 48 carried in the ends of the nozzle. The pivots 48 are carried on the swinging arms 49 on the pivoted hub 50, the arms being swung to carry the wheels 47 into contact with front carrying'wheels 2 by means of the coiled tension spring 51 (see Figs. .XVIII and XX) or other tension means, so that the simple act of attaching this brush nozzle by the attaching screws 16, 16 to the front of the machine provides a brush nozzle with a brush driven from the carryin wheels 2.

These carrying wheels 2 being oor wheels,

revolve the brush whenever the sweeper is moved back and forth in contact with the floor like a carpet sweeper.

The capacity of my improved suction cleaner is such that it can be moved over a floor or carpet quite rapidly and do its work because of the large capacity of the fan and the large volume of' air that passes through the machine, so that this movement. is found to be entirely sufiicient to drive the brush at the usual carpet sweeper rate when using the brush nozzle. For that reason the entire combination is very effective as a carpet sweeping device, the one part assisting the other. The large volume of air taken in keeps the brush entirely clean making it una bare floor for that matter, and passes it' through to the colleator. I have indicated certain modifications of my invention. It does not matter so far as the operation of the fan is concerned how the electrical connection is accomplished.

While I have shown a fan with blades especially designed for the highest efiiciency. a fan of the eneral contour as I have shown would bee ective if provided with annular opening. The lowering of the motor into the body of the fan and. the dish-shaped concooling of the motor because of the large volume of air passed by it over the comparatively large surface exposed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a main casing supported on a pair of suitable front wheels comprising a broad intake portion in the lower part contracted in proximity to the fan intake to secure Venturi action, a fan chamber in the-upper portion with circular opening at the top and broad annular intake, a motor casing with dishshaped bottomsuitably flanged and fitted to the said opening, a detachable motor supported within the casing, a fan with a dish- .shaped body portion conformed to the bottom of said motor casing and having curved radially disposed blades at its periphery and suspended by adepending spindle of said motor within the intake passage, the intake of the fan being defined on the inner side by the dish-shaped body as a broad annular opening, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a main casing supported on a pair of suitable front wheels comprising a broad intake portion in the lower part, a fan chamber in the upper portion with circular opening at the top and broad annular intake, a motor casing with dish-shaped bottom suitably flanged and fitted to the said opening, ,a detachable motor sup orted within the casing, a fan with a dish-s aped body portion conformed to the bottom of said motor casing and having curved radially disposed blades at its peri hery and suspended by a depending spmd e of said motor within the intake passage, the intake of the fan being defined on the inner side by the dish-shaped body truction is available in many designs and v resnlt in great compactness and asslst 1n the as a broad annular opening, and a broad intake connectionffwith flaring mouth, substantially as described for the purpose spec- 3. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a main casing carried on suitable wheels comprising a fan chamber in the upper portion with a broad annular intake, a broad intake portion'in the lower part constructed to Venturi form in proximity to the fan chamber, a motor, a motor casing with a dish-shaped bottom projecting into the upper part of said fan chamber, and a fan with a dish-shaped body. portion conformed to the .bottom of the motor casing and having1 radially disposed blades at its periphery an suspended by a depending spindle of said motor extending into'the intake passage, the intake of the fan being defined on the inner side by the periphery of the dishtion with a broad annular intake, a road inp the intake passage,

takeportion in the lower part, a motor, a

motor casing with a dish-sha d bottompro- Eating into the upper part 0 said fan chamr, and a fan with a dish-shaped body portion' conformed to the bottom of the motor casing and having radially dis osed blades at its periphery and suspended by a depending spindle of said motor extending into the intake of the fan being defined on the inner side by the eriphery of the dish-shaped body of said an as a broad annular opening.-

20 5. In a suction cleaner, the combination in the casing of a fan chamber with a broad annular intake, a motor, a motor casing dish-shaped to fit into the said fan chamber centrally of the said annular intake, and a fan with a dish-shaped body portion conformed to the dish-shaped part of the said motor casing and having radially disposed blades at its eriphery, the intake of the fan being defined on the inner side b the periphery of the dish-shaped body 0 said fan as a broad annular opening.

6. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a (iinotor, a motor casing with a dish-shaped si e formed to the dish-shaped side of the said motor casing and having blades at its periphery, as specified. r

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

' ,IRA J. OWEN.

afan with a dish-shaped body con- 

